Voted "Top Doctor" in Phoenix Magazine's April 2014, 2015 & 2016 issues, Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy discusses and recommends shoes for people of all ages with a multitude of podiatric problems. My goal is to help you find good looking shoes that are good for your feet and are pathology specific. For an appointment at our North Scottsdale office, please schedule an appointment by calling (480) 563 5115. For more information, please visit www.pinnaclepeakpodiatry.com

Featured Post

Ten Things You Need To Think About BEFORE You Have Foot Surgery. 1. You need to exhaust conservative treatment before you decide...

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Top 20 Comfortable Women's Dress Shoes - Podiatrist Reecommended

Top 20 Comfortable Women's Shoes!

I can't tell you how happy and proud I am to finally have my first top twenty women's dress shoe list! These are not in any particular order - just my top 20 picks. I hope you enjoy it and I would love to hear any feedback or comments.

**A word of caution! If you have what is called Hallux Limitus or Hallux Rigidus (limited motion at the big toe joint), osteoarthritis of the 1st toe joint, forefoot problems or hypermobility (ligament laxity) - the higher heels will not work for you. I recommend that if this is the case, you need to go for the lower heeled shoes or flat dress shoes.Just remember - it ain't the shoe that makes you, it's the attitude that you bring!

John Fluevog's Hi Together / Benatar

$269

I own this shoe and I adore this shoe! Although it was pricey, it was one of the best shoe investments I've ever made. For more specific information, please see my review on John Fluevog shoe's on this blog.

Tsubo Acrea

$110

I also own this shoe and by some freak of nature I purchased it at Ross for $12! How that happened I don't know but I can wear this shoe all day long in complete comfort. It will not accommodate a dress orthotic but I found I did not need one with this shoe.

Tsubo Lagella

$140

I don't own this shoe but it is on my wish list! Stylish and very comfortable. Don't consider this shoe if you have pain and limited range of motion at the first toe joint.

Taryn Rose Flavor Slingback

$95

Thank you Taryn Rose! She designed a gorgeous dressy shoe that is also comfortable. Not for patients with pain at the first toe joint.

Jambu Sweden

$99

This is a super comfortable shoe that many of my patients love! It works wonderfully for anyone with plantar fascitiis (heel pain), metatarsalgia, tendonitis, and mild to moderate forefoot problems. It's great for wearing all day on concrete surfaces.

FLY London Yaz Wedge Pump

$140

What's not to love? It's a funky cool, wear all day long shoe that will work for just about any foot type. If bunions are a problem, this is an easy shoe to take to a cobbler and have them stretch the area over the bunion for even more comfort. If bunions are an issue, consider a dress orthotic with this shoe as arch control will help prevent the progression of the bunion.

Dansko Tori Pump

$85

I don't think it's possible to have a "best of" list without featuring a Dansko shoe! This is a great dress shoe with a rigid protective sole, decently wide forefoot are and good midfoot and rearfoot control. In my experience, Dansko shoes do not work for women who:

*Have wide feet

*Have any excessive or prominent "bumps" on their feet

*Moderate to Severe Bunions

Except for the above named situation, a great dress shoe!

Tusbo Asmik

$120

Roses are red, violets are blue, Tsubo, I love you...

Really, I love this shoe. Anyone who works all day on hard surfaces (take note teachers!) will love this shoe. It is extremely protective and comfortable as well as stylish. This shoe will work for women with mild to moderate Hallux Limitus (limited motion at the 1st toe joint), metatarsalgia, plantar fascitiis (heel pain), Achilles Tendonitis, mild to moderate tendonitis, mild bunions and hammertoes and mild to moderate forefoot problems such as capsulitis. This shoe will not work for patients with moderate to severe Morton's Neuroma's, bunions or hammertoes as they will need a wider toebox.

Jambu Allure Mary Jane Pumps

$78

All of the Jambu shoes are great but I particularly like this one as it also has the rigid protective sole and a wide, soft toebox.

FLY London's Yakin Slingback Slingback

$170

Lovely shoe! This shoe will work well for women with metatarsalgia, mild plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and mild bunions and hammertoes.

Alegria Feliz

$99

This shoe is excellent and will work wonderfully for women who suffer with 80% of foot pathologies including: bunions, hammertoes, Tailor's bunions, Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain), osteoarthritis, Hallux Limitus/Rigidus (limited range of motion of the 1st toe joint), Morton's Neuroma's, metatarsalgia, painful toes, tired leg syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, capsulitis, and Tendonitis. This shoe may not work as well for patients with Achilles Tendonitis as they need a slightly higher heel to relieve the tension on the Achilles.

John Fluevog Prepare Guide

$285

Expensive, yes. Comfortable, very. Once again, John Fluevog's shoes are exceptionally comfortable and make with the highest quality of workmanship. This shoe is going to work for almost every foot problem someone might suffer with including metatarsalgia, heel pain, tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis and mild to moderate bunions, hammertoes and Tailor's bunions.

Earthies Monaco

$149

This shoe is casually elegant and comfortable enough to wear all day. I particularly like the rigid sole covered with the soft insole.

Taryn Rose Gussy Platform

$40 - $130

This is a lovely shoe that works well for women who can wear a higher heel. The fabric is slightly stretchy and soft which puts less pressure on bunions. If you have any pain or limited motion across the first toe joint, this is not the shoe for you.

J-41 Hybrid Wedge

$85

This shoe is great for anyone suffering with heel pain, metatarsalgia, Achilles Tendonitis, mild to moderate bunions and hammertoes and mild Morton's Neuroma's. This shoe will work well for any patients who work on hard surfaces for long hours.

Sanita Ninka Adjustable Strap Sandal

$120

Although this is more a sandal, I am including it because, well, I do live in Arizona and this would look nice with a summer dress. I love the color and it is uber-comfortable.

Earthie Veria

$128

I confess, I'm pushing it a bit on this one! It could have better rearfoot control but I'm putting it in my list because it meets all other criteria for what constitutes a good dress shoe. Plus, it's pretty...

This is not a good shoe for you if you have moderate to severe rearfoot problems such as ankle osteoarthritis or any ankle or knee instability. If this is the case, you need more rearfoot control!

Tsubo Ina Pump

$50

Love the shoe, love the price. All roads lead back to Tsubo. This is one shoe company that has it right - combining comfort with asthetics. Me like.

Crocs Farrah Wedge Sandal

$20-$50

I have to save some love for the Croc Wedge Sandal! This is comfortable - it's actually quite amazing how comfortable plastic can be. Don't knock it till you try it...

Wolky Cloggy

$159

For the final shoe, I wanted to pick something that would work for virtually anyone! This is a great shoe, extremely comfortable and well made. If your feet hurt, this is almost a sure bet!

In conclusion,

there are a few things to remember...

If your feet hurt and no matter what shoe you try doesn't work and your feet are still killing you - you need to see a Podiatrist!

You may be walking around on stress fractures which usually presents itself as a dull, constant ache that gets worse with more walking and hurts most at the end of the day. I see this situation every day!

Also, if you are diabetic or have nerve damage (neuropathy) or have Charcot foot - you need to be extremely careful about what type of shoes you wear. If this is the case, please consult your Podiatrist.

I hope this list was helpful!

Sincerely,

Dr Cathleen A. McCarthy

*******

Check out my first novel, which was written under my pen name C. Mack Lewis. It's available on Kindle or you can download a free Kindle app and read it on your iPad.

Hi Sara,Thank you for reading the blog! The Crocs Patricia would be much better if it had a rearfoot strap. What I do like about it is that it has a substantially thick sole as well as forefoot and midfoot strapping for more biomechanical control. The problem is that - without a rearfoot strap - it is forcing you to crunch down your toes to stay in the shoe which can encourage hammertoes, ect. Also, if you have a rearfoot problem, you would greatly benefit from a shoe or sandal that offers rearfoot strapping. The Croc Patricia is greatly superior to barefoot walking or wearing flimsy flipflops but not as good as an excellent sandal with rearfoot straps.Hope all is well,Cathy McCarthy:)

HI, i would like to thanks , i was getting get a pair MBT shoes, but now i will make appointment to see a Podiatry Doctor as i have, extremely bad pain in my heel,and i will start wearing my croc's again. cheers Tania

Hi Tanya,Thanks for reading the blog and just remember that when you follow up with a Podiatrist - try to find one who is more conservative! Surgery should only be done when all conservative treatment has failed. If you have someone who is pushing you to have surgery - get a second or third opinion...Hope all is well,Cathy:)

I feel like my problems have been answered. I have been looking for a present for my mom who has had foot problems recently and she had been told by the chiropodists to wear specials shoes that will help her feet be more comfortable. This site is just what she needs! I can't wait to show it to her, thank you for your help!

Thank you for this article. I heard two friends talking about their plantar fasciitis a couple of nights ago, and they were lamenting the issue of not being able to wear skirts or dresses due to the limited footwear options. I am a shoe lover, and forwarded your article on to them today! It is much appreciated!

Dear Dr McCarthy,thank you for this website You have helped me immensely during my office visits. Given the foot neuropathy please give me your thoughts on Aravons Mona and Maya shoes. They have a non flexible sole so they feel rigid. I have really benefited from wearing the Wolkie Jewel but I'm also looking for something more dressy than their strappy clog but with closed toe. Thanks!Michele

Hi Michele,I'm a fan of the Aravon shoes. Just make sure that the sole is thick and rigid and doesn't bend or flex. I looked at pics of those shoes and they look okay but check them individually in the store to make sure that they don't bend. They meet the criteria of forefoot and rearfoot control. For a similar look, check out the Dansko women's dress shoe line as they have rigid soles also. Glad to hear you're doing well...Good luck!Cathy:)

Thanks a lot for perhaps the most useful show blog entry ever!I suffer from a bunion (deformity) same foot as my mom who recently had surgery and is still suffering. I am in my 30's and believe that surgery is something i would like to pass on for as long as possible. You mention for some of the shoes that they are not for individuals with first toe joint pain. What does that mean? I love all of the shoes where you happen to mention that so I am really hoping that does not exclude them for my condition. Also, is surgery the only option for bunions? I am told that I have stage 2 deformity and that I will need surgery. The podiatrist also was pushing his dress shoe orthodics claiming that they are the only ones that help and nothing else on the market (retail stores for example) would carry them. Since you have no financial gain by answering this question I am hoping you can shed some light as to whether his claim is true or if orthodics from the walking company or some other specialty shoe shop would do the trick. Thanks again!

Hi Ivy,Thank you for reading the blog and thanks for the wonderful compliment!

When I'm talking about '1st toe pain' what I'm referring to is something called 'Functional Hallux Limitus' or 'Hallux Rigidus'. It's when the 1st toe joint has limited range of motion or no range of motion. It's a common biomechanical issue and I have a theory that, if in improper shoes, patients with FHL or HR have a much higher chance of foot injury and knee, hip and lower back pain.

Basically if you have limited range of motion at a joint - you do not want to wear a super-fliexble shoe or a high heeled shoe that tries to force motion through a joint that does not have motion. Doing so will cause pain, damage and a compensated gait pattern that can cause knee, hip and lower back pain.

In a nutshell, if you want to wear heels, look for a wedge heel with rearfoot straps. Women typically know how high of a heel they can wear. If it hurts - come down on the heel height.

I do recommend custom-molded inserts and I personally think that Podiatrists make the best ones. (But keep in mind that you are talking to a Podiatrist so I am biased!). I don't like to be pushy about orthotics and I always tell my patients to spend their money on shoes first and then get orthotics. Orthotics are like the icing on the cake - but the shoe is the cake. If you are limited by budget, spend your money on excellent shoes first. However, if you can get CMO's from a Podiatrist and you wear them in excellent shoes - that will slow or stop the progression of bunions as well as other foot deformities.

Good shoes and orthotics are an investment in your body. If your insurance does not cover orthotics, ask your Pod about a payment arrangement - I think they are worth it and Podiatrists know how to make excellent orthotics. If that is not an option, there are some good over-the-counter inserts in the stores. They are not as good as CMO's but if you put them in an excellent shoe, they will suffice. Try Footsteps, Powerstep or Superfeet. Those are the three that I like the best for inside sneakers.

Hello 'Unknown',I'm sorry to say that there are no Tusbo's that I can recommend for moderate to severe bunions. I love the Tsubo brand, but they tend not to work well with larger bunions. Thanks for reading and sorry for the delayed response!Cathy:)

I have been wanting to find comfortable dress shoes, so this list is great. To have these shoes be podiatrist recommended is a big plus. The Earthies Monaco shoes look especially fun. If they are that well made, I would love to get a pair. Most of my dressy shoes are not comfortable for the long haul. http://www.chicagofeet.com/

My office is at walking distance from my home but due to uncomfortable high heels I never tried for doing so. Now, I think I must buy these Women ankle boots Australia.So, that I can walk to my office.

If you get a chance I'd love for you to take a look a new brand of shoes I am launching soon which are dress shoes designed for bunions that are more akin to the kind you would find in high fashion shoe stores.

The shoes aren't meant to be worn all day, but will be comfortable enough and beautiful enough to wear for a special occasion such as a Christmas party or a wedding - supporting the bunion(s) and not exposing them for all to see.

Thank you very much for your post, it makes us have more and more discs in our life, So kind for you, I also hope you will make more and more excellent post and let’s more and more talkhttp://fortrendy.weebly.com/

Each of the Womens Shoes & Boots have some specific element taking into account the necessity of the clients. Whenever acquiring, look at the online stores for an immaculate fitting pair of shoes boots for ladies. Selecting may be troublesome in view of the mind-boggling decisions that one is offered with.

Hi I had lapidis mcbride and bunion surgery on my right foot in 2009. I have flat feet and I am suffering now with plantar fasciitis in my left foot for about 3 months. I was previously in the medical field and had the luxury of wearing tennis shoes and my orthotics. I now am working where I have to wear dress shoes. Having a hard time finding dress shoes to wear

Hi Shannon,Making the transition from sneakers with an orthotic to dress shoes can be challenging!

Some possible dress shoes for you would be:*Alegria (make sure the sole is rigid and doesn't bend or flex and it has rearfoot control - no mules!) Best two are the Feliz and the Paloma. *Wolky Cloggy *Danko profession clogs (go to the department store to get the proper fit). I wear my Dansko prof clogs with a heat-molded insert for better arch control. *Dansko dress shoes (make sure the sold doesn't bend or flex at all and that it has rearfoot control).*Fly London boots

Another option is to have your podiatrist write a prescription stating that it is medically necessary that you wear tennis shoes with orthotics. I do this all of the time! You can purchase the NB 928 in black leather (men's sizing) so that you can wear it with black slacks to keep it low profile).

Hi Anonymous,I was heartbroken when I saw that the Tsubos were no longer in business! Check out my latest list of sandals for this summer entitled:"Top 30 Comfortable Sandals for Summer 2016" You can find it through the 'search' block and it was published Feb 28th, 2016. Thanks for reading!Cathy:)

Thank you for these wonderful recommendations. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with lymphedema in one leg - it's quite mild, but I noticed there are no recommendations for shoes that suit lymphedema patients. Is there perhaps a similar condition that I can find recommendations for? I am looking for comfortable but not clunky shoes. I'm relatively young, and it's hard for me to have a disfigured leg and be forced to accentuate it with ugly shoes... Its a thin line to walk.One brand of shoes that I find very comfortable are ECCO. I'm not sure they have rigid soles, but they are comfortable enough to walk all day and even run in (to catch public transport, not to do a 10K :-)

Hi RT,I think you're very smart to be getting in comfortable shoes at a young age! You can wear ANY shoe you want - as long as it meets the four criteria that is required to make an excellent shoe:1. thick, rigid and non-flexible sole with a wide base2. wide toebox3. rearfoot control4. arch support (which can be added)

Over the years, I've had some patients come in with some pretty cute shoes that meet the four criteria. Once you know what you are looking for (which you do!) you will eventually find something that meets the criteria and looks good.

It is a challenge, but not impossible. My entire blog is dedicated to finding good looking shoes that are good for your feet and pathology specific - and the reason I started the blog was because it is a challenge. I will be more aware of adding Lymphedema in future shoe lists. Thank you for pointing that out!!

For sandals, the Ecco Yucaton is a good choice for casual wear. Just find the one that has a sole that bends the least as quality really varies.

If bunions are a problem, this is an easy shoe to take to a cobbler and have them stretch the area over the bunion for even more comfort. If bunions are an issue, consider a dress orthotic with this shoe as arch control will help prevent the progression of the bunion......

HI Edie Jams,That is all great advice and I often refer patients to Cobblers to modify shoes and I love the dress orthotics, but the most important thing is to also make sure that the sole of any shoe that you are wearing is thick, rigid and non-flexible through the forefoot area. If the sole is flexible and allows motion through the forefoot area then the bunion and hammertoes then it will speed up the progression of any deformities and cause more pain and arthritic changes. Thank you for your wonderful advice and thank you for reading!Cathy:)

I feel like my problems have been answered. I have been looking for a present for my mom who has had foot problems recently and she had been told by the chiropodists to wear specials shoes that will help her feet be more comfortable. This site is just what she needs! I can't wait to show it to her, thank you for your help......

Phoenix Magazine's Top Doc Award

Total Pageviews

About Me

My name is Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy. I was honored to have been voted a "Top Doctor" in Phoenix Magazine's April 2010 and 2014 issue and I'm passionate about helping people get out of pain and back into their lives!
My training includes a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University, pre-med at University of Pittsburgh and I attended a four year program at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine where I earned the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. I completed a two year residency in Buffalo, New York in 2000 and moved to Arizona where I have been in private practice since that time.
I am a foot and ankle specialist and spend my days treating patients of all ages for a multitude of podiatric problems. My experience has been that if I can properly treat patients and get them through the healing phase, the next challenge is to get them into proper shoes and inserts so that the problem does not return. I am convinced that proper biomechanical control of the foot is crucial to preventing not only foot problems but knee, hip, and lower back pain.
I hope you enjoy my recommendations!
For an appointment, please call us at 480-563-5115.

FOR A SHOE TO BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOUR FEET, IT MUST MEET 4 CRITERIA:

1. A thick, rigid and non-flexible sole. This is the most important feature of the shoe! Any shoe that bends or flexes through the sole is setting you up for pain, inflammation, arthritic joint changes and increased risk of injury.

2. Wide, soft toebox. You can get Extra-Depth toebox shoes for more room in the forefoot area.

3. RearFoot Control. A shoe must have at least a strap in the back. No backless shoes!

4. Arch Support, which can be achieved with orthotics, OTC inserts or a heat-molded insert.